With deep sadness, the Offices of Councilmembers Andrea L. Boone and Michael Julian Bond announce the passing of Dr. Booker Taliaferro Poe, one of Atlanta’s first African-American pediatricians and an iconic advocate for children’s health. Poe, 89, died peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 31, after courageously battling cervical myelopathy.
Born in Eustis, Florida, Dr. Poe was one of three high-achieving children (all sons) born to the Rev. William and Janie Poe. The Poe sons, celebrated in regional Florida media, went on to become a pediatrician (Booker), a psychiatrist (Cupid), and, at age 14, the youngest Morehouse College entrant of his time (Spurgeon) who ultimately became a school principal. His upbringing instilled in him the values of excellence and service that would guide his groundbreaking career in medicine and community leadership.
Dr. Poe earned his bachelor’s degree in pre-med with honors from Tennessee State University in 1957, and earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in 1963. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California, and served as a captain and medical officer in the United States Air Force, with assignments in Texas and Japan.
In 1969, Dr. Poe and his wife Gloria and their two young children moved to Atlanta, where he opened his practice. He also served on the staffs of Southwest Community Hospital, Atlanta Medical Center, Crawford Long Hospital, and the affiliate staff of Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Along with other prominent physicians, Dr. Poe was instrumental in establishing the Morehouse School of Medicine and was an adjunct professor of pediatrics at Georgia State University.
For more than five decades, Dr. Poe served families in Atlanta with extraordinary care, compassion, and commitment. A trusted physician to countless children, often treating multiple generations within the same family, he became a cornerstone of Atlanta’s healthcare community and an unwavering voice for health equity and social justice.
Dr. Poe was deeply involved in advancing public health policy in Georgia, championing expanded preventative healthcare and access to Medicaid. His leadership and service earned him recognition throughout his career, including being named “Physician of the Year” in 1980 by the Atlanta Medical Association. In 1981, the Georgia General Assembly named him “Doctor of the Year.” In 2023, the HEALing Community Center presented him with the first-ever Dr. Booker T. Poe Community Pillar Lifetime Achievement Award, named in his honor.
Councilmembers Boone and Bond stated: “Dr. Booker Poe wasn’t just a doctor; he was family to all of Atlanta. His healing touch, his advocacy, and his unwavering commitment to children shaped the lives of thousands in our city. He was a pioneer who broke barriers so that others could follow, and Atlanta is forever indebted to him. We extend our deepest condolences to the Poe family on behalf of the entire City of Atlanta.”
Dr. Poe is survived by his children, Janita Poe, Ph.D., Attorney Brian Poe, and his granddaughters, Ryann and Sydney Poe. Arrangements, including visitation, wake, and celebration of life services, will be announced soon.
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